3. There is an Italian bank that takes parmesan cheese as collateral on loans

Its curious methods has been the subject of Harvard Business School's case study, “Credem: Banking on Cheese.” The case goes on to explain how Credem replaces an expensive part of the operations process for dairy farmers in the Emilia Romagna region of Northern Italy.

As well as holding the cheese as insurance, Credem stores, and therefore ages, the wheels in vaults for the duration of the loan. The farmers save on operating costs, and the bank gains some expertise about a risky industry. Win win.